Highland Park Bowl

Highland Park Bowl on North Figueroa Street was established in 1927, during Prohibition, and its history is part of its appeal. In 1966 it was renamed Mr. T's Bowl, and over time bowling gave way to live music as it became a well-known local venue. It has since been restored by the 1933 Group, the hospitality company behind several historic bars in the city, and returned to its original name.

The restoration brought bowling back to the centre of the experience, and the decor celebrates the building's Prohibition-era past. Bars serve cocktails and beer, and a kitchen offers food, so you can make a full evening of it. Menus are available on the website, along with delivery options.

Opening hours run from 5pm to midnight from Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 2am on Friday, noon to 2am on Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday. The venue is all ages before 8pm and 21 and over after 8pm, which makes it a good family outing in the afternoon and a lively bar in the evening.

Bowling lanes are popular, especially on weekend evenings, so make a reservation through the website if you want to bowl at a particular time. Walk-ins are more likely to find a lane early in the day or midweek. It suits groups of friends, families in the daytime and couples looking for something different from a standard bar.

For press and filming there are dedicated email addresses, while reservations and events go through the reservations page. Staff can help with group bookings and private events. Even if you do not plan to bowl, the bars are a good place for a drink, and sitting near the lanes to watch others play is part of the fun. The combination of historic interior, bowling and food makes it a popular choice for birthdays and group celebrations, so larger parties should book well ahead, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

Highland Park is a neighbourhood north-east of Downtown with a busy main street of independent shops, cafés and bars along Figueroa. The Highland Park station on the Metro A Line is a short walk away, making it easy to visit without a car, and Go Get Em Tiger has a café nearby on Figueroa Street for a coffee earlier in the day.